AleSmith Barrel Aged Speedway Stout

Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
San Diego, California USA

’02 Bottle #15/115 at Ricklikebeer’s YEHA ’05 thanks to EDA who slept while we drank his beer. Dark black color with a small light brown head. Complex aroma of bourbon, dark roasted malts, coffee and oak. The flavor of bourbon stood out the most to me(probably because I’m not a big fan) followed by strong coffee notes and the roasted malts. Very good, but I still prefer the regular Speedway. Thanks again Mike!

Wow, what a treat to see this one at Rich’s Yeha (huge thanks to EDA). ’02 vintage, bottle #15/115. Poured a dark black color with a small sized tan head. Aromas of coffee, roasted malts, wood, bourbon and some vanilla. Tastes of coffee, roasted malts, light vanilla and bourbon. Very good, but not as good as the regular Speedway I had on tap in CA (don’t get me wrong, I’d kill for another bottle of this one).

2002 bottle courtesy of Eyedrinkale at richlikebeer’s YeHa 05. Thank you so much Mike. Oaky, boozy, vanilla nose with mild hints of chocolate and some sweet malts. Not much coffee in the nose. Opaque black/brown color with a small tan head. Wish the head was a bit larger. Sweet, chocolatey, roasty start. This morphs into some booziness with a dry woodsy flavor. Finishes with a touch of sweetness. The barrel-aging is not very noticeable and does not add or take away from this beer IMO. It was really nice to be able to try this.

Rating #600. Thanks to Eyedrinkale for bringing and sharing this at the Yeha, even if you weren’t especially conscious at the time. 2002 vintage, bottle #15/115. Poured black with a small brown head. Aroma of roasted coffee and heavy whiskey. Flavor is predominantly whiskey, with coffee hanging around backstage, reemerging with greater intensity towards the finish. Slick oily body. I think the whiskey may overpower the coffee flavors a bit too much for my taste. Good, but I prefer regular Speedway.

Wow what great stuff. Had this at the first ever tapping at O’Brien’s Pub. Felt lucky to get my share of the 2.5 gal keg. Dark dark, with a brown head. Strong aromas of barrel. The flavor of the barrel was evident too, but more in the aroma. Flavors of chocolate, whisky, alcohol, and roastiness. Wonderful.

BottleShared at the "Pitonka mini RB fest" shared by DrunkAsaSkunk Poures a very dark brown/black with a light tan head and heavy lacing. Aroma of coffee, but not as much as much as the non BA version as I recall. Heavy smooth feel with some dark roasted slight sour hints. Strong lingering smokey aftertaste. Very deserving of it’s reputation.

Aromas of chocolate, coffee, whisky, wood. Taste is coffee, alcohol, whisky, malt, caramel, vanilla. Just an extremely good beer.

04’- Huge thanks to Blake for sharing this one at the Pre-GTM gathering. Having had the earlier version (and at the time much more aged) I was not such a fan of this one, though I’m guessing with time It will be just as awesome. 02’Thanks to Gordo for this one! Pours a pitch black, small medium brown head. Aroma of whiskey, fresh roasted coffee, almost overpowering. Flavor is full of whiskey/barrel, coffee, with the alcohol and coffee taking a backseat compared to the regular version. Damn fine brew.